After Luo Guang proposed his terms, Ddraig quickly reached a consensus with him and promised to do his best to assist.
However, when Luo Guang mentioned that he intended to train for Juggernaut Drive, Ddraig was startled once again. His voice trembled, and he even showed some concern. "Uh... partner, don't be in such a hurry. Juggernaut Drive isn't that easy to train for. Many of my previous hosts died trying to achieve it."
"We're not in a rush. We'll take it slow."
The Juggernaut Drive form would fully unleash the Red Dragon Emperor's power. Ddraig knew how strong he was in his prime, on the same level as the True-Transcenders of the Underworld. The strongest fighters in Heaven and the Grigori weren't even on his radar. But great power often came with a huge price. No human body could withstand that power.
"Say, partner, can you be honest with me? Are you in some kind of trouble? Is a powerful enemy chasing you?"
"No."
"Then why are you so eager to get stronger?"
"Since the power is there, I might as well develop it. I'm not the kind of person who would use a handgun when I have a nuclear weapon."
Luo Guang's expression remained unchanged. "Besides, I don't have to use it, but I must have it."
Hearing this, Ddraig understood the man's unyielding determination. He was not someone who could be easily swayed. Since persuasion was futile, Ddraig could only cooperate.
Of course, Juggernaut Drive was not as easy to develop as Balance Breaker. Compared to a body and mind that could withstand Ddraig at his full power, Luo Guang was more concerned with the resentful souls sealed deep within the Sacred Gear. According to Ddraig, once Juggernaut Drive was activated, the consciousness of those resentful souls would be infused into his mind through the Sacred Gear. Luo Guang was not happy about having outsiders in his head, so the first goal was to find a way to purify the curses.
Luo Guang experimented a few times. After he found a clue, he decided to stop for the day and try to solve the second side effect of Juggernaut Drive within half a month.
After he finished reviewing his gains, Luo Guang tidied up the house. He then saw Asia timidly walking down the stairs. Her exquisite face was filled with hesitation, and she was afraid to speak.
"Is something wrong?" Luo Guang asked.
"C-Can I take a bath? I don't know... where the bathroom is," she stammered.
She had been staying upstairs the whole time. Asia only came down after she saw Luo Guang's armor receding from his body like a tide. She hadn't bathed in a few days and could smell a faint odor on herself.
"A bath, huh?" Luo Guang pondered for a few seconds, then asked, "Can you scrub someone's back?"
"Huh?"
In the bathroom that could fit ten people, steam condensed on the glass window, and the air was filled with a hazy heat, blurring the view. Luo Guang sat on a stool in the front, and behind him was Asia, wrapped in a towel. Her fair skin was exposed to the air, reflecting a captivating glow under the lights. The "absolute territory" under the towel was enough to spark one's imagination.
There were only three people in the entire bathroom: Luo Guang, Est, and Asia, who was tasked with scrubbing Luo Guang's back. As for Ddraig, Luo Guang had already thrown him into the Elemental Realm to sleep.
Asia looked at the broad back in front of her. Her cheeks were hot, and the strength in her arms involuntarily lessened.
"A little more force."
"I'm... I'm sorry!" Asia immediately apologized and started scrubbing harder. After being betrayed twice, she didn't want to experience the feeling of loss again. She didn't want Luo Guang to hate her. She would take care of all the housework as long as he didn't chase her away.
"You don't need to apologize to me. You're one of us now, so relax," Luo Guang said in a lighthearted voice. In the past, he had Est help him scrub his back, but the Sword Spirit would accidentally put too much force into it, often leaving his back bruised.
"O-One of us?" Asia's hands stopped when she heard those words. Large teardrops began to fall from her eyes. But she quickly came to her senses, wiping her tears as she spoke. "I'm... I'm sorry. I'm just so happy because no one has ever said that to me before."
"Mr. Luo Guang, what... what are we now?"
"Friends, family, partners. Whatever you want us to be."
These words were a direct hit to Asia's soul. "Family... I finally have a family." A smile appeared on her tear-stained face. "I'm so happy, Mr. Luo Guang. Thank you... thank you so much."
Hearing the continuous thanks from behind him, a smile appeared on Luo Guang's face. Asia was an orphan who had been abandoned by her birth parents. One could only imagine what a great impact Luo Guang's words had on her.
Est, who was in the tub, looked at Asia for a moment and then lay on her back, preparing to swim. But she quickly sank.
"Mr. Lo... Luo Guang, Ms. Est sank!"
"Don't worry about her. Let's continue."